This report covers the period July 1, 2003, through Jan. 1, 2004. Data is accurate as of Dec. 1, 2003. Dates are subject to change.Navy

Ships

Aircraft carriers

Ex-Oriskany (CV-34): Scheduled to be sunk as an artificial reef. The likely recipient is the state of Florida, although Texas and South Carolina have shown interest. Florida decided on Nov. 14 that if it receives the ship, it will be scuttled off Pensacola. The target date for sinking the carrier is spring 2004.

Ex-Midway (CV-41): Transferred to the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum on Aug. 29 as a memorial “in remembrance of the valiant service of its crew and a testimonial to the men and women who built, reconfigured and maintained the vessel.” Left Bremerton Inactive Ship Facility in Washington under tow on Oct. 1 for Oakland, Calif., where it arrived Oct. 7 to receive a new coat of paint. Upon completion in mid-December, it will be towed to San Diego for permanent berthing.

Ranger (CV-61): To be stricken from the Naval Vessel Register as “excess to naval requirements.”

Independence (CV-62): To be stricken from the NVR as “excess to naval requirements.”

Constellation (CV-64): Decommissioned Aug. 7 at Naval Station San Diego.

Ronald Reagan (CVN-76): Commissioned July 12. To be assigned next year to Pacific Fleet and home-ported at San Diego.

Submarines
Bremerton (SSN-699): Home port changed from San Diego to Pearl Harbor on Sept. 1.
Michigan (SSBN-727): Due to return from her last SSBN patrol by end of December 2003. To enter Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., for refueling and conversion to SSGN in February 2004.
Georgia (SSBN-729): Returned to home port from last SSBN patrol on Oct. 30. To transfer to Atlantic Fleet for operational tests and then enter Norfolk Naval Shipyard for refueling and SSGN conversion in fall 2004.
Jefferson City (SSN-759): Home port changed on Jan. 24 from San Diego to Bremerton for an overhaul.
Virginia (SSN-774): Launched Aug. 7 at General Dynamics Corp., Electric Boat Division, Groton, Conn. Christened Aug. 16.
SSN-778 – 783 (unnamed): Construction contract for five submarines, plus one option, awarded to General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division, on Sept. 14.
Amphibious ships
San Antonio (LPD-17): Launched July 12 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations, New Orleans. Christened July 19.
Green Bay (LPD-20): Keel laid Aug. 26 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations (correction).
Anchorage (LSD-36): Decommissioned Oct. 1 at San Diego. To be transferred to Taiwan.
Portland (LSD-37): Decommis- sioned Aug. 4 at Little Creek, Va. For disposal.
Mount Vernon (LSD-39): Decommissioned July 25 at San Diego. For disposal.
Support ships
Ex-Samuel Gompers (AD-37): Sunk as a target July 21 along with Dixon (AS-37) and Seneca (ATF-91), at 31 degrees North, 74 degrees West by aircraft from the Enterprise (CVN-65) strike group, NAS Oceana, Va., NAS Jacksonville, Fla., and MCAS Beaufort, N.C. P-3 Orion aircraft also participated. Weapons used included Harpoon missiles and 5-inch gunfire.
Resolute (AFDM-10): Placed “out of service, in reserve” on Nov. 7 at Norfolk. To be stricken and sold for commercial service.
Coronado (AGF-11): Decommissioned Nov. 14 at Point Loma, Calif., and transferred to Military Sealift Command for further service as USNS Coronado (T-AGF-11). This was done to reduce manning and operating costs. If MSC operation is satisfactory, La Salle (AGF-3), Blue Ridge (LCC-19) and Mount Whitney (LCC-20) could also be transferred to MSC.
USNS Prevail (T-AGOS-8): Removed from MSC inventory April 18 and transferred to Naval Sea Systems Command/Commandant, Norfolk Naval Shipyard for further service, replacing Gosport (IX-517). Renamed Prevail (TSV-1) [Training Support Vessel No. 1]. Activated for fleet service Sept. 2. To be reclassified IX-537.
USNS Assertive (T-AGOS-9): Placed “out of service” on Sept. 1. Transferred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for conversion to a research ship.
USNS Able (T-AGOS-20): Taken “out of service” July 7 and laid up in reserve Category B as a mobilization asset.
USNS Littlehales (T-AGS-52): Officially transferred to NOAA on July 8 and recommissioned as Thomas Jefferson (S 222).
USNS Comfort (T-AH-20): Taken “out of service” on June 12 and reduced to reduced operational status. Maintained in a lay berth at Baltimore.
USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK-3016): Placed “in service” Nov. 7 as part of the Marine Prepositioning Enhancement Program. This is the second ship of the program, the third ship having been placed in service several months ago due to the length of time it took to convert this ship. Conversion began July 18, 1997.
Unnamed (T-AKE-4): Contract for construction awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, on July 18.
USNS Shugart (T-AKR-295): Activated ROS on Jan. 21 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.
USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298): Activated from ROS on Jan. 9. and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.
USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300): Reactivated from ROS on Jan. 31. Placed in MSC-ROS on Oct. 19. Placed “in service” for continued service on Nov. 30. Still active.
USNS Fisher (T-AKR-301): Placed in ROS on Nov. 6.
USNS Seay (T-AKR-302): Placed in ROS on Oct. 24.
USNS Mendonca (T-AKR-303): Placed in ROS on Oct. 18.
USNS Pililaau (T-AKR-304): Activated from ROS Dec. 12, 2002, and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.
USNS Brittin (T-AKR-305): Activated from ROS on Jan. 2 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.
USNS Benavidez (T-AKR-306): Delivered to MSC on Sept. 10 and placed “in service” the same date.
USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR-312): Activated from ROS on Jan. 23 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.
USNS Cape Henry (T-AKR-5067): Reactivated from RRF on Jan. 28 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.
Rainier (AOE-7): Decommissioned Aug. 29 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., and transferred to Military Sealift Command for further service as USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7).
Ex-Dixon (AS-37): Sunk as a target off the Virginia coast July 21 by aircraft and surface fire.
Ex-Seneca (ATF-91): Sunk as a target off the Virginia coast on July 21 by aircraft and surface fire.